Service difficulty report · Drag Brace · Piper PA44180

Difficulty date
August 6, 2005
Submitted
August 23, 2005
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N3104C
Make and model
Piper PA44180
Aircraft serial
4496190
Engine
Lyc O360*
Part
Drag Brace
Part number
8628003
Condition
Failed
Location
Mlg
Part time
251 hours
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
O

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

UPON LANDING AND NOSE GEAR TOUCHING DOWN PILOTS HEARD LOUD BANG FROM THE NOSE AREA. NOSE GEAR HALF COLLAPSED (DRAG LINK JAMMED AGAINST THE NOSE STRUT TRUNION) AND AC WENT TO THE RT INTO GRASS AREA THEN SPUN TO RT TURNED 180 DEGREES IN A LARGE ARC, CROSSED BACK ACROSS TO LT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY COMING TO REST ON LT SIDE OF RUNWAY. RECOVERED ONE CRESCENT SHAPED FRAGMENT. APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER PIECE UNACCOUNTED FOR. PROBABLE CAUSE; DEFECTIVE DRAG LINK, BUSHING OR BOLT AT CONNECTION POINT. (K)

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